Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Updated 3:27 AM ET, Fri August 9, 2013

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – As record temperatures hit China, an Ikea store in Beijing has seen a surge in interest from citizens looking for air-conditioning, comfortable sofas and a good nap. Shanghai experienced its hottest July in 140 years with temperatures as high as 40.8 C. At least 10 Shanghai residents have reportedly died from heat stroke this summer.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – To give you an idea how hot China is right now -- Shanghai Television grilled a piece of raw pork belly on a marble floor under the sun. The pork belly was medium-well done after 10 minutes.And Shanghai is not the hottest city in China.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – China Weather TV, the state-approved 24-hour weather channel in China, just released a new list of the hottest cities in China. Fuzhou, a city in Southeast China, topped the chart with the temperature passing 35 C for 32 days of the year. Shanghai ranked 16 in the list.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – People in recent days have stayed indoors whenever possible, where it's typically air-conditioned.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – "Malls are full, swimming pools and water parks are packed, taxis are hard to find because residents take taxis rather than walk even if it's just two blocks," Shanghai-based executive Felix Gonzalez tells CNN. "Many people order take outs and eat at home or in the work place. Lots of watermelon is thrown around. In our office, we offer a cooling station, fruit baskets and ice cream too."

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – Residents who live in old neighborhoods in houses without air-conditioning seek refuge in malls and other air-conditioned public places. "I've seen men half-naked, sprinkling water on their heads and faces, or dipping towels in water to cover their heads," said Gonzales.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – Ikea's latest mattress commercial? "You can only feel the comfort when you lie down," says the sign in Chinese. This "customer" needed no further invitation.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – Some provinces in China have fired rain-dispersal rockets, which create artificial rain, to combat continual high temperatures and dry weather.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – Another citizen seeks refuge from the heat for an afternoon nap.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – Communal living has never been as celebrated as in the Beijing Ikea.

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Photos:Gallery: Chinese flock to IKEA to escape heatwave

Chinese cool down in Ikea – There's a reason display items are sold cheaper.